Welcome to Game 3 of the SMJHL Prospect Showcase! This game was lower in scoring, but didn’t lack its fair share of excitement.

The Echoes came out strong in the first period, striking at 9:52. The play all started from the blue line, with Gygera cycling up top, distributing the puck down the boards to Ethan Price. Price saw Miro Slapskinnenen tearing down the slot and caught him backdoor for the pretty bang bang play. 1-0 Echoes!

The Echoes continued their push in the opening stanza, with Jukka Timonen launching a wrister from the point that was deflected by a PeaKay Soupcan attempt that was nearly a high stick. Mattias Teller buried the rebound in the crease at the 13:52 mark of the second. This gave the Echoes the 2-0 lead.

The Rococos were not done, however. They went into the locker room to assess their strategy, and came out swinging in the second. Pooks Halloway struck with a beautiful off the rush goal five hole on the goaltender at 1:15 of the second. Assists to Edward Williams and Jimmy Wagner.

The Alpha bois weren’t done yet – they were gonna tie things up, and do it quickly. Vladdy Pokozov found Antti Antinen for a quick wrister, and the rebound was buried by Chris de Siren to knot up the game at 2 only 2:35 into the second.
The Echoes rallied back, striking before the midway point of the game. This goal went to Mohammad Cuddles at 9:46.

It wasn’t until the third when the Echoes really put this away, tallying three strikes from Price, Cuddles and Teller. The Rococos lone 3rd period strike was from Antinen.

It was a strong goaltending performance by Eller, stopping 52 of 55 shots and boasting a .945 save percentage. John Curtis probably would like a do-over, with .824 save percentage.

Tonights Three Stars –
1 - Frans Eller (EO )
2 - Mattias Teller (EO )
3 - Mohammad Cuddles (EO )